Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-09-29

has been content to caro- for it's own domain
and people. Hc should rejoice because the
work OF framing our Constitution COM
pleted one hundred years ago today and also
because. when completed, it established a free
government. He should rejoice because this
constitution and Government have survived so
long, ard also because they have survived with
SO many blessings, and have demonstrated SO
fully the strength and value OF popular rule
he shonid rejoice in the wondrous growth and
nchievoments OF the past one hundred years,
and also in the glorious promise Of the Consti-
tuition through centuries TO come.
We shall full to be duly thankful for all that
WINS done for us one hundred years ago unless
we realize the difficulties of the work then in
hand and the dangers avoided in the task of
forming 4 more perfect union between dis
lointed and inbarmonious States, with interests
and opinions radically diverse and stubburuly
maintained. The lerploXities of the conven-
ton which undertook the labor of preparing
our Constitution are apparent in these earnest
words OF ole of tho most iliusrious of its men,
1ers: The small progress we have 1nade after
four or hSe weeks of close attendance and con.
tinred reasonngs With each other, our different
sentiments on almost every question-several
OF tho last producing as many nays as yeas
is, methinks, melancholy proof of the i'm.
perfection of the human understandings We
indeed, seem to feel our want of political
wisdom, since we have been running about in
search of it. Wo have gone back to ancient
history for models of government and exam
ined the different rms of thosu republics
which having been formed with the seed Of
their own dissolution, now no longer exist In
this situation of this assembly, cropping as IL
were in the dark to find political truth, and
scarce ablo to DISTINGUISH it when presented to
us, how has it happened. sir, that we have not
heretofore once thought of humbly applying to
the Father of Light to illuminate our under
standngsY
And this wise man, proposing to his follows
that the aid ani blessing OF God should be in
Yoked in their extremity, declared: Il have
lived, sir, u long time and the longer live the
more convincing proofs SOC Of tho truth that
God governs in .he affairs Of mon And IL a
sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his
notice is it probable that an empire can rise
without his aidP We haze been assured SIR in
the sacred writings TINT except the Lord build
the house they labor in vain that build it" /
firmly believe this, and I also believe that
without his concurring aid we shall succeed in
this political building no bett than the build
ers OF Babel. We shall be divided by our little
partial local interests, our projects will be con-
founGed, and We ourselves shall become n rs-
proach and by word down to future ages; aud,
what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from
this unfortunate instance despair of establish
ing governments by human wisdom, and leave
IT. to chance, war, and conquest.
In the fnce of all discourngefnents the faith
ers of the republic labored on for four lonr.
weary months, in alternate hope and fear but
always with rugged resolve, never faltsrng in
sturdy endeayor, sanctifed by prophetic
sense OF the value to posterity OF their success,
and always with untiinchinp faith in the prin-
ciples which mako tho foundation Of n govern
rnent by the people.
At last their task was done. IL is related
that upon the back Of tho chair occupied by
Washington as the President Of tho convention
sun las painted, and that as the delegates
were signing the completed Constitution, one